Santa Clara Zoning Code § 12.5 Parking Design Standards

• A. Standards. Except where in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, parking facilities shall be designed and built to the standards of SCCC § 18 74 040 through SCCC § 18 74 050 The following standards also apply:

1. Driveways

• a. One-way driveways shall not exceed a width of 10 feet; two-way driveways shall not exceed a width of 20 feet

• b. Curb cut flares shall collectively not exceed the width of the driveway by more than 20%

• c. All driveways shall be perpendicular to the street

• d. Driveways shall not affect the slope or direction of the sidewalk

2. Structured parking

• a. Where adjacent to any street, structured parking shall be behind a depth of at least 30 feet of occupiable space on the ground floor, except as provided for in §12 4 A 2 c (below) The lining shall be designed per the Standards in Figure 12-1.

• b. Fully-subterranean garages may extend to all lot lines Semi-subterranean garages may extend to building faces, provided that the ground floor is not more than 4 feet above sidewalk grade See Figure 12-2.

• c. Parking structures may be unlined in specific locations Figure 12-3 regulates "Allowable Garage Facade Street Exposure", which varies by street and by ground and upper levels

• d. Guidelines for efficient and effective parking structures include:

• i. A 255 ft minimum length allows one bay to slope, rising 10 ft, with the opposite bay having a level floor The level floor improves visibility and allows for a street-facing facade to be level

• ii. A 122 ft minimum width provides for 2-bays with 2-way traffic and perpendicular parking

• iii. In the case of a garage in Block B adjacent to the existing office building: 6 levels of parking would make the garage rooftop the same height as the adjacent 7-story office building, potentially creating public rooftop space for both structures (with a connecting bridge)

• iv. Glass-backed elevators and glass enclosed stairways enhance security

• v. Ground floor commercial space in parking garages is encouraged

• vi. Garage rooftops can include vegetation and/or solar collectors

3. Private garages:

FIGURE 12-1 | LINED STRUCTURED PARKING

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Property Line Building Frontage Line
Upper Story Liner
Ground Story Liner Parking
Min Depth - 30'
Street

FIGURE 12-2 | SUBTERRANEAN PARKING

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Building Frontage
Property Line Line
Street

• a. Front-loaded garages are not permitted On-site parking shall be accessed from alleys or from drives where permitted per Section 5.3.C

18 Attachment 1:165

Publication, Apr 2026

SANTA CLARA CODE

75 | Chapter 12: Building Use & Parking

FIGURE 12-3 | ALLOWABLE GARAGE FACADE STREET EXPOSURE

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

LEGEND

All Stories : Parking garage may be exposed (unlined) on all stories of the facade Upper Stories Only : Parking garage may be exposed (unlined) on upper stories of the facade only (not on the ground floor)

18 Attachment 1:166

Publication, Apr 2026

ZONING

76 | City of Santa Clara Downtown Form-Base Code

13 Site Standards & Guidelines